The Daily Dose

Ministry of baptism

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Matthew 3:11

John the Baptist was baptizing people to repentance before Jesus stepped out into His public ministry.  These were not believers, but they were people ready to dedicate their life to following the Messiah when He came.  This was a new concept.  There was no one else baptizing at that time.  John was the only one and as He was baptizing people, he told them that the Messiah was coming at any time.  He spoke of the Messiah as if he knew Him personally and He did.  They were actually related, they were cousins.

Interestingly enough, John didn’t tell people who the Messiah was before it was the right time.  Even though John had known Jesus for his entire life, he wasn’t going around telling people that his cousin was the Messiah.  He did tell people that he, John was not the coming One and there was One coming after him that was greater than John.  John kept himself in check by remaining humble when he could have been boasting about their connection.  He kept the focus on the one that was coming after him and said he wasn’t even worthy to tie up his sandals.  He also said that when the Messiah comes, He will baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Now this was something that got attention.  Up until that point, only prophets and sometimes kings and priest had the Holy Spirit.  Now they were hearing that they too could get baptized with the Holy Spirit and His fire.  This was something to get excited about back then and it is for us today, too.  As believers and Jesus followers, we sometime forget the supernatural work that He did when we invited Jesus into our lives and made Him Lord.  We were a walking dead spirit brought to life by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit of God.  Oh, that we would revel in knowing that God has done an amazing supernatural work and transformed us into a new creation that never existed before.  Think about it.

Today I want to encourage you by first of all saying: Messiah has come and paid the penalty of the sin of the world!  Take some time to think about and cherish the relationship you entered into at the point of your salvation.  Now think about how that relationship has grown over time and you are so much closer to Him today than ever before.  Lastly, share that repentance message with someone today and tell them how they can know Him personally.  Keep yourself humble and submit to His ways and you will see the work of the Lord show up in supernatural ways each day.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 3:7-12

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Missed opportunity

And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.  Acts 27:12

I wrote earlier in Acts about alternate endings.  When the apostle Paul was trying to go to Asia to preach the gospel, but it wasn’t working out.  Then he had a dream about someone calling him to go to Macedonia.  If Paul had pressed through and ignored the Holy Spirit, the results would be a totally different world than what we live in today.  There definitely would have been an alternate result of his ministry.

In the reading today, once again there could have been an alternate ending.  Paul was on his way to Rome and the ship that was taking him there needed to harbor for the winter.  However, because the majority of the crew did not find the harbor suitable to stay for that length of time, they decided to try to get to a harbor in Crete.  If they had heeded the warnings of Paul, they could have saved their cargo and their ship, not to mention spent the winter there with Paul and significantly impacted that region with the message of salvation.  As we know, anywhere Paul was there were signs, wonders and salvation.  This crew could have spent the entire winter becoming disciples of the good news message instead of almost dying in the great sea and losing all but their lives there.

As I consider alternate endings today, I sometimes see them as missed opportunities.  Many times, when following the plan of God, they are missed opportunities for failure, which I am happy to miss.  In the case of the passage today, it was a missed opportunity to spend time with Paul and mission out on learning much about the revelation he had been given in his lifetime.  We often do not recognize the opportunities we are missing because we are moved by the things we can see and figure out on our own.  If we would instead be led by God’s Spirit, we could capitalize on every opportunity He brings our way.  No matter how outlandish it may seem. 

Today I want to encourage you to be on the lookout for opportunities your heavenly Father may be trying to get you to step into.  One way to recognize them is if you are constantly being offered the same thing over and over.  For example, a job opportunity or a move of some kind that has some questions or even looks like a step backwards.  Often times, God is rerouting your life, and it can look like backtracking when it is actually a set up for a turn around.  Listen closely for the subtle hints He is giving you and when you have opportunities, don’t make your decisions based on your own understanding or what you think that others would expect you to do, or they would do themselves.  Instead, wait until the direction is plain and clear from the Holy Spirit, then ask Him to increase your faith, give you His empowering grace and strengthen His peace inside of you as you take steps in that direction.  Most times the steps will be slow and subtle so you can see things working out as you are faithful to get there.  We have an advantage over those in the world of the Holy Spirit inside of us.  Let’s start following His direction instead of following the blind leaders of the blind.  Before long, others will be wanting to hear how things always seem to work out for you and you can tell them about your secret weapon of your divine connection.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Acts 27:9-12

9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 

10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 

11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 

12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

Out of Control

And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.  Acts 27:1

 If you are anything like me, you like feeling as if you are in control of most things in your life.  Even if it is just on the surface, I feel safest when I am the one who is determining the choices I will make.  Many years I made decisions based on what was popular or what I wanted to do at the time, but I always seem to get myself in a place where I had little or no control over what happened next.  It was not wisdom that I followed or based my choices on, so often I would have to bear the consequences of foolishness.  It was very frustrating at times because I would have to call out to someone for help, usually financial, because I lived my life only thinking about me and mine.  In that position, it would have been easy to fall into a victim mentality, and sometimes I actually did.  But mostly, I was determined that I had gotten myself into the mess and it was up to me to get out. Thank goodness I had enough sense to call on God even when I was leaving Him out of most of my life.

Now I try to make my decisions base on God’s direction.  When I don’t know what is the right thing to do, I don’t go asking other people who don’t follow the Lord, I get godly counsel and especially press into to my heavenly Father for the plan.  He is faithful to be there and He always has a plan but what I do after that is follow it.  Most times it is totally different than I would have thought of and always it requires faith steps to believe that God is going to do His part after I make the way doing mine.

So in the reading today, it looked like Paul was up against some circumstances that he had no control over.  First of all, he was a prisoner, and most prisoners were at the mercy of the guards watching over them.  However, because Paul was trusting God and actually on the path God had planned for Him, there was favor with him wherever he was.  A man name Julius was in charge and actually showed kindness to Paul and those traveling with him.  Paul was even given permission to see friends and receive care and provisions from them.  This is amazing!  He was completely released on his own while they were in port at Sidon.  Even though he was obviously not in control, he was given freedoms.  Of course, we know this was only because he was living step by step following the plan of God for his life.

This is great news because we can have the same kind of favor and freedom right in the middle of storms and places that we are obviously out of our control.  Think about it at your job or when you go out any place in public.  Or those times when you are in a troubling trial, God’s favor can even reach you right there in the middle.

Today I want to encourage you to get in line with the plan of God for your life.  Listen and follow the directions He is speaking to your heart.  Then when you have times in life that are out of your control, you will see the One who is in control show up right in the middle of your struggle.  He will give you favor, and He will get you through to victory.  You can really only control one person in your life and that is you. Decide today that you are not going to make any more decisions without God’s help from His Spirit and His Word.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 27:1-8

1 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. 

2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. 

3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. 

4 When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 

5 And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 

6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.

7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. 

8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

Except for

Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:29

All of us have exceptions in our lives.  We all have things that we would not want others to have to carry or deal with.  Ideally, our job and goal is to duplicate ourselves in others.  That’s what discipleship is.  We teach others to love God and to tell others about His love for them.  Our job is to make disciples and hopefully, you are the kind of Christian that others want to be like.  Then there are the things that we don’t want to pass on.  Things like insecurities, pride, bad attitudes.  These are habits that most of us have but try to keep hidden for the most part.

In today’s reading, Paul makes a statement that is probably in the heart of each one of us.  He said to king Agrippa, that he prayed all who heard him would become like him…except for.  His “except for” was not a personal trait, but a conditions or position that he was in at the time.  He wanted all people to be a Christian and a witness, a preacher of the gospel, but not a prisoner. His desire for others was all the good and none of the bad.

Each day we all are faced with opportunities to be bold about our witness and also to make disciples, but the only way to have that bold spirit is to be filled up with the love and desire to make an impact on the lives that we encounter each day.  Paul had a deep desire for everyone to have a close relationship with his heavenly Father.  He knew how God had changed his life and wanted all people to know the unconditional love of God and that all would have an encounter like he did.  His desire to see people saved was so great that he prayed for others to receive, everywhere he went.

What about us today?  Are we the kind of witness that is so filled up with God’s love that we want all people to come to the knowledge of the truth?  Are we praying for people every where we go to come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus?  Is it our hearts desire that all people know God’s unconditional love for them and experience it in their every day lives?  If not, we can start that today. We can make disciples and in the process we will not be focused on our “except for” just like Paul didn’t focus on his.

Today I want to encourage you to begin to pray for hearts to be ready to receive wherever you are, then pray for the boldness to speak the good news in love and kindness.  Ask for supernatural opportunities and ways to share.  He has given you everything you need to be a witness and a testimony, but it is up to you to take the steps.  Start today to be the kind of Christian that duplicates and desires all people to be like you, except for the chains that are holding you back.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 26:24-32

24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

25 But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 

26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Obtain help from God

_{Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—Acts 26:22}

  I have had many opportunities in my lifetime to call out to God for help.  He was always faithful to rescue me, despite the self-inflicted reasons that I was in trouble.  Most times, God’s help didn’t show up the way I would imagine it would be. I would dream up some elaborate and excessive plan that I could see as a possibility, but His ways were usually simple and subtle.  One example is the many times I got behind on bills as a single mom.  I would always imagine a sudden and large flow of cash coming in so that I would not struggle in that area again.  But the help I obtained in those times was always just the help for what I needed in that moment.  Of course, I was thankful, but I didn’t really understand why He didn’t bring me a landslide income.  Now as I look back, I can see that He stayed with me every step of the way and in meeting my needs one at a time, It was for sure that I would keep calling on Him as needs came up.

Now I call on Him before the needs come.  I talk with Him each day, first thing so that I don’t have to worry about the supply of whatever I need that day.  I know He is with me and I know He is providing, step by step.

In today’s reading, the apostle Paul, talking to King Agrippa, said he obtained help from God.  I am quite sure when he called out for help, he never imagined that the help would be being dragged off to prison.  This doesn’t look like much help at all.  But the help that Paul got from God in these times was God’s empowering grace to continue to walk out God’s plan, right in the middle of his circumstances.  Paul obtained help from God to:

1. Be obedient to the heavenly vision from Jesus to declare the message of the gospel to all peoples.
2. To turn to God in repentance
3. To do good works that displayed his repentance

All these things Paul did with God’s help wherever he was.  He didn’t pray for deliverance from oppression, although that often happened.  He didn’t pray that he would never get arrested again, either.  He only called on God for the grace to continue doing the will of God that he was called to.

What about you?  Do you obtain help from God in times of trouble?  Chances are it often looks different than you imagine it will.  God shows up when we call on Him, but it is rarely in the timing and process that we can imagine.  However, His grace flows to us to be strong in all our weak times and that is the greatest miracle of all.  He shows up and doesn’t conquer for us but gives us the strength to be more than a conqueror and be the overcomer that He designed us to be.

Today I want to encourage you to obtain help from God.  Calling on Him when you have trouble is good, but calling on Him before you have trouble is better.  Start each day with asking Him to go before you to make the way straight and clear, yes.  But also ask Him to be with you in any trouble that may come up.  He doesn’t cause the trouble, He just gives you the grace and everything you need to get through to your victory every time!

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 26:19-23

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 

20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 

21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 

22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— 

23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Make a straight path

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ Matthew 3:3

This is an Old Testament scripture that prophesied the ministry of John the Baptist. His ministry came before Jesus’ to get people ready for the coming of the Messiah.  However, it is the same thing we are doing today.  Even though Jesus ministry started 2000 years ago, the ministry is still going on today and once again, we are looking for the coming of our Savior.  Many believe that as Christians, we only need to sit back and wait for Him, but I believe there is a work to be completed before He returns.  We are in that time right now and we are preparing the way for our Savior to return.

John’s message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is coming.”  We have the same message today.  Now more than ever, the world needs to know that Jesus is coming, and He wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. (see 1 Timothy 2:4) They don’t need to hear a condemning message; they need the message that God loves them and doesn’t want anyone to perish.  2 Peter 3:9 says The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, and it’s not His will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  God wants all people in the world to know that He has made provision for them to be with Him for all eternity.  He never intended for people to go to hell.  That place was made for Satan and his demons, not for the people that God loved so much that He gave His only Son to connect us back to Himself and save us all.

So, what are we doing about it?  I doubt most of us are as loud as John the Baptist was and quite frankly, I don’t think he had a great revelation of the love of God.  However, He was effective, and many were drawn to him because he had a message of hope.  Hope for a future and hope that their salvation would soon be there.  We too have a message of hope and that is exactly what the lost people of the world need today.  We have the answers to the hurting, depressed, searching and afflicted people of society, so let’s fill our lives up with God’s love for these people so we can lead them to the answer to all their ailments, that is Jesus.

Today I want to encourage you to take a small step in faith toward someone who is lost and needs a Savior.  Share the message of salvation by telling how He saved you.  Share a scripture or a prayer with someone who is sick or hurting in some way or invite someone to attend weekend service or a small group with you.  You can even give extra offerings to missions abroad to reach others far away or support a local ministry that helps people get off the streets.  Seek the Lord’s direction and ask Him to send people your way that you can help.  He said: The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  So don’t just sit around waiting for Jesus to come back, become a laborer today and get out there in the fields that are ready to be gathered in.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 3:1-6

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”

4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him

6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

Don’t hesitate

_{Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.  Matthew 2:21}

The last verses of Matthew chapter 2 happened after the wise men left and Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt.  The crazed Herod had all the baby boys killed because the wise men did not report back to him who the Christ child was.  Mary and Joseph did not know this was going to happen, but because they were warned to leave, they departed immediately.  Of course, God was protecting His Son in the earth, but why couldn’t He just do it right where they were?  Certainly, He could have sent Angel armies to protect Him, or He could have blinded the soldiers that came to kill Jesus.  He had done such things in the past with prophets and kings. 

We do know that these things happened to fulfill prophecy, but the most important part of this passage is that Mary and Joseph did not rely on their own understanding.  When they were told to leave and where to go, they didn’t hesitate.  God had supplied them with a treasure from the wise men to pay for their expenses along the way and maybe even the whole time they were in Egypt.

This is the message I think we can take from this passage.  When you know that God has called you to something or led you away from something, don’t hesitate.  Don’t lean on your own understanding.  Maybe there is a psychotic lunatic ready to inflict harm on you or maybe it is just where God has placed His blessing for you.  Whatever the case, God is smarter, and He can see the big picture.  Trust that He has your best interest in His heart and is leading you in the right path.  He is always leading you to His goodness.

Today I want to encourage you to take time to hear God’s direction to your heart for your life.  Don’t ignore nudges or promptings from the Holy Spirit to lead you away from trouble or problems.  Sure, God can protect you in the middle of things, but if He is trying to steer you away from difficulties, wouldn’t it be better to just avoid them altogether?  God really is out to get His best to you, but He needs your cooperation in order to line you up with it.  If you feel He is leading in a direction that your are afraid to go or even do not want to, ask Him to give you the courage, strength and desire to go there or do it.  Trust Him today and begin listening so much closer than you ever have before.  In that way you will miss out on a lot of traps and struggles that your enemy has planned for you.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 2:16-23

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”

19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”

21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

A light from heaven

At midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.  Acts 26:13

 I lived in the dark for a lot of years.  I had the light inside me, but He was buried deep down and could not be seen.  Then one day I realized that I didn’t want to hide His light any longer.  I turned back in the direction of my Lord and began to follow Him.  Now His light shines for all to see in my life.  When I go out into the dark world, I bring Him with me to light my steps along His path.  Sometimes people are drawn to the light and sometimes they run away.  His light can be blinding to those who have been in the dark for so long.  They fear the light because they do not understand or know what He is their hope of salvation.

In today’s reading, the apostle Paul told Festus and Agrippa about the day he was knocked to the ground by the light of Love.  His testimony about the day he met Jesus is an extreme account of what happens to each of us when we first encounter Him.  It goes something like this:

1. One day in every person’s life they hear about or experience the presence of God.  He comes as a bright light to expose the darkness an individual is living in.  This dramatic meeting is with the transformative power of the Light of God’s love displayed in the blood of Jesus that penetrates even the darkest corners of a life.  It also reminds each one that no matter how thick the darkness is, the light of God’s love will dispel it when received.
2. When the light comes, the Holy Spirit will speak to the heart of those it shines on.  He reveals God’s desire to have a personal relationship with each person and to be a guide out of the darkness around them. This is when each person is faced with the decision to receive or reject this great offer. 
3. Once received the call comes.  As Paul heard from Jesus on the road, each one will hear the call to follow Him and turn in a different direction than they were currently going.  Repent, and live the life that was designed for each person to walk out.
4. At that point, He rescues them out of the darkness they had been walking in and now they carry the light of God with them wherever they go.  Now, these are the ones that shine His light in the darkness to lead others out of the pits of life into Him marvelous love.
5. Others can hear the message of salvation and forgiveness.  They no longer have to live in the darkness groping about guessing at every turn in the road.  Now they live in the light and can lead the way for others to see His goodness.

What about you?  No doubt you have had your own Damascus Road experience.  Oh, I’m sure it was not as dramatic as Paul’s, but it changed your life like nothing else ever had.  Now you carry His light and His love.  Share that message with those who need the light in their lives.  Soon you will be the leader of many who need the darkness to flee, and they will follow His light as you shine it for all to see.

Today I want to encourage you to let His light shine in your life.  In the dark world we live in, be the hope of something more beyond this place.  If you have never had a personal experience with the light of heaven, invite Him into your life today and turn your steps toward His direction.  It isn’t hard and all are welcome.  You can ask Him into your life by praying from your heart the prayer below.  When you do, you will encounter His light and then carry it with you for others to see His great love and salvation.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 26:12-18

12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 

13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 

14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 

15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 

16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 

17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 

18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

What about the past

Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.  Acts 26:9-10

It’s been about 20 years now that I have been living my life by listening to and following the Holy Spirit’s direction and leading.  I don’t always get it perfectly, of course, but when I feel like I’m not sure about steps to take, I quickly run to Him for help.  I do not want to get off course again like I spent so many years of my life.  For the first few years, I struggled with forgiving myself for the messes I had made and the bad decisions I carried out.  I didn’t know how to keep my thoughts from going to the past and despising myself for getting so far away from my heavenly Father.  I remember specifically the day the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about letting go of that unforgiveness.  He showed me that I was raising my sinful past above the power of the blood of Jesus to forgive me.  In holding on to these detestable feelings, I was actually putting a wall between my Savior and me.  From that day on, when those feelings tried to raise up inside my heart, I immediately began to thank God every time, for rescuing me and pulling me out of the pits I had falling into so many times.

Now years later, I still do not like many of the things I did, but now God is using many of my experiences as a testimony to others.  He has put me in positions where I am able to help so many that are struggling now the way I once did.  My prayer is that I can help some from falling as far as I did and help them to stay close to their Father when the temptations come.

Today’s reading is about Paul giving his testimony before King Agrippa.  Paul started from the beginning of his life telling how all the things that he was experiencing on that day were proceeded by many bad decisions early in his life.  At the point of his testimony, God was now using his life as a witness of God’s goodness and faithfulness.  Paul was able to tell them exactly how he got there, and that God was with him.  God had turned Paul’s regrettable decisions of his past into an avenue to reach others with the gospel.

He will do that for you too.  If you have made some mistakes in the past or if you just haven’t followed the plan of God for your life and are doing things your own way, you can change that today.  Much like the apostle Paul did on the road to Damascus, you can turn your life over to God and He will make a testimony out of it.  He will lead you on a path to help others who are struggling through the same things that you have, and you will be able to come along side them and help the step closer to their Father in heaven.

Today I want to encourage you if you have something in the past that you are holding against yourself.  Let go of it and forgive.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you get beyond it and then when you do, ask Him to lead you to others that you can minister to because of what you have been through.  Then thank Him for the peace that He has put in the place of your pain. Let Him use your past as a testimony of His goodness to rescue and help you get back up when you fall down.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 26:1-11

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 

2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 

3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 

5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 

6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 

7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 

8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 

10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 

11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Divine appointments

And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.  Acts 25:13

 I’ve been in court hearings before.  More than one of them.  In my experience, it was stressful, inconvenient and increased the tension of the situation.  I never considered court to be a divine appointment or thought about sharing my faith in those meetings.  That was not the case with the apostle Paul.  He considered every occasion a divine appointment.  He followed God’s plan and direction so closely; he knew that God was orchestrating every audience Paul was given to share his testimony and salvation with those who showed up.

In today’s reading, it was no accident that Festus was the new procurer, and that king Agrippa came to Caesarea at that time.  This was just another arrangement God had made for these to hear the gospel message.  As soon as the king heard about Paul, he immediately wanted to hear what he had to say.  Paul’s reputation had been one of controversy and everyone in that region knew who he was.  King Agrippa was no exception.  Each time Paul was called up to talk about the charges against him, he turned it into an opportunity for God’s story to be told.  Paul trusted God’s perfect timing through the legal struggles and knew that His hand was on every hearing.  He also seized these opportunities to share the good news of salvation and Paul believed that God was guiding him through each one of these legal proceedings.  The apostle Paul did not take exception to being imprisoned, he just counted that as a whole new congregation to share God’s love and salvation with.

What about you?  Do you see each meeting you have as a divine appointment orchestrated by God?  Do you maintain your witness and testimony no matter what unforeseen circumstance you are in?  You can begin to take advantage of every appointment in your day by committing it to God and asking His direction on how to share His love and your faith in Him.  He will guide you and bring those into your day that are searching.  Even if you do not see immediate results, know that you have planted seeds and God is watching over each word you share to grow it up in that person’s heart in the perfect timing.

Today I want to encourage you as you pray and make plans for the day, know that God is going to bring divine appointment into your life.  Take time to talk with Him about the direction He has so you do not miss anything He has orchestrated.  Be prepared to share His love with others that He happens to bring your way and trust that your words are being seeds planted in the prepared ground of each heart.  Do not see setbacks and unplanned events as inconveniences, instead ask your heavenly Father how they can be turned into divine appointments to impact someone’s life for all eternity.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 25:13-27

13 And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. 

14 When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, 

15 about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. 

16 To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’ 

17 Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. 

18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed, 

19 but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 

20 And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. 

21 But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

23 So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in. 

24 And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. 

25 But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. 

26 I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. 

27 For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”